Water-closet-apparatus handle



(No Model.)

J. H. HAWLEY.

WATER CLOSET APPARATUS HANDLE. No. 311,982. Patented Feb.'10, 1885.

N, PETERS, Phnlo-Lnhagraphcr. Wnshinglun. 17.x;

-T prism JOSEPH H. HAIVLEY, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

WATER-CLOSET-APPARATUS HANDLE.

SFECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,982, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filed March 5, 1884. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn H. I-LiwLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IVater-Closet-Apparatus Handles; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains, to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain novel and useful improvementsin water-closetapparatus handles, and has for its object to provide a simple and compact device readily attachable to the handle of any ordinary water-closet apparatus, and which, while permitting the valve-rod to be raised or lowered in the usual manner and wit-h reasonable freedom, will automatically hold said rod in any position desired, thus allowing the water to run in the bowl ofthe closet for any length of time; and with these ends inview my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements, hereinafter fully and in detail explained, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may more fully understand its construction and opera tion and how to make and use my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, referringby letter to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of an ordinary water-closet cup, and also of my improvement attached in operative position; and Fig. 2, a bottom view of my improved device, showing the arrangement of the packing within the collar and the means for securing it in position, thelugs at the side, and the screw which passes through them and serves to tighten or loosen the grip of the packing upon the handle.

Similar letters denote like parts in both the figures of the drawings.

A is a collar, which I preferably construct from thin sheet metal, and having its ends B C extended parallel one to the other and provided with corresponding holes adapted to receive a screw or bolt, D, which serves to tighten or loosen the collar, as may be desired. The collar A is made tapering in G is a packing, of any resilient material, but

which I preferably form of soft rubber, which is bent into circular shape, so that its outer surface will rest against and conform to the shape of the inside of the collar A. The pack-' ing is made of such thickness as to leave an opening in the center corresponding substantially in size to the diameter of the ordinary valve-rods used in water-closet apparatus.

Hare spurs formed upon the edge of the collar A, and are bent inward upon the rubher, so as to prevent said rubber from leaving its position inside the collar.

The operation and adaptation of my improvement is as follows: In the bottom of the cup containing the handle of an ordinary watercloset apparatus are out two openings adapted to admit the entrance of the lugs E F, which are then bent under the bottom of the cup so as to firmly hold the device in place at the bottom of the cup. The valverod is then disconnected and pushed through the center orifice in the packing, and once more connected. I may, however, with equal facility dispense with the lugs and attach the device to the cup by means of screws or other suitable means. By the proper adj ustment of the screw or bolt D the packing G is made to embrace the valve-rod tightly enough to cause friction between it and said rod. By the tapering shape of the collar from the bottom to the top, and by means of the spurs H, the packing G is prevented from being drawn through the collar either from the top or bottom. Another result by the tapering shape of the collar, and consequently of the packing which conforms to it in shape, is that in drawing up therod its motion through the packing is toward the smaller end of the opening, thus generating little friction. When it is pushed down its motion has a tendency to crowd the packing together, thus making the downward motion of the rod more difficult than was its upward. The friction of the packing is sufficient to prevent it from falling back by its own weight, but is not so great as to prevent the valve-rod from being returned to its normal position by means of a slight push on the handle. Any wear upon the packing from constant use may bereadily compensated for by tightening the screw.

I am well aware that numerous devices intending to accomplish this result attained by the use of my device have been constructed. Their operation is effected by means of a catch-spring or other mechanical means rero quiring some action of the operator to render them effective or some movement in order to disengage them, and I do not wish to be understood as claiming any such construction or idea in my improvement, the gist of my invention resting in the broad idea of a device readily attachable to an ordinary water-closet adapted to hold the handle in any desired position by means of friction, and requiring no further action on the part of theoperator than simply to pull up the handle, and when desired to shut off the flow of water to return it to its place by a gentle push.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a water-closet-apparatus handle, the

combination of a collar adapted to be readily secured to the cup of a water-closet handle, with an inner collar of rubber or other suitable material, and with means for tightening or loosening the grip of the collar upon the rubber, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a collar of sheet metal or other suitable material, as described, with an inner collar of rubber or other ,de- 3 5 sirable substance, means for adjusting the size of the space within said rubber collar, and means for securing the apparatus to the cup of a water-closet-apparatus handle, substantially as described. o

3. In combination with a water-closet-apparatus handle and pull-cup, the collar A, having ends B O, operated by screw D, lugs E F, spurs H, and the packing G, arranged within said collar, substantially as set forth and described. v

In testimony whereof Iaftlx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. HAWLEY. Witnesses:

ROWLAND B. LACEY, W. J. HAVILAND. 

